KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- The latest phase of the MH370 seabed search in the Southern Indian Ocean has achieved broad survey coverage, though no significant discoveries or conclusive findings have been identified so far, local media reported.
Search operations conducted onboard Armada 8605 covered approximately 7,236.40 square kilometers as of Jan. 15, the Malaysian national news agency Bernama reported on Tuesday, citing the MH370 Search Operation Summary Progress Report (Jan. 6-15) released by the Association for Families of the Passengers and Crew on board MH370 (MH370 Families).
It said the search activities were carried out within the Southern Indian Ocean sector of the 7th arc and utilized up to three Hugin Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), with activities largely uninterrupted between Jan. 6 and Jan. 14.
Favorable weather conditions for sustained surveying efforts continued until Jan. 14, before operations were halted on Jan. 15 due to inclement weather.
"The operation continues to progress methodically within the defined search area, with further outcomes dependent on continued surveying and favorable operational conditions," it added.
The Malaysian government signed an agreement with UK-based Ocean Infinity to reinstate the search for the missing aircraft.
The disappearance of MH370 was a tragic accident that occurred on March 8, 2014, when the plane, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, China, vanished from radar screens with 239 people on board. ■
